New members make solemn promises concerning
their conduct in Lodge and in society. Each member also promises to keep confidential
the traditional methods of proving that he is a Freemason which he would use
when visiting a lodge where he is not known.

Freemasons do not swear allegiances to each
other or to Freemasonry. Freemasons promise to support others in times of
need, but only if that support does not conflict with their duties to God,
the law, their family or with their responsibilities as a Citizen.

Why do your 'obligations' contain hideous penalties?

They no longer do. When Masonic ritual was developing
in the late 1600's and 1700's it was quite common for legal and civil oaths
to include physical penalties and Freemasonry simply followed the practice
of the times. In Freemasonry, however, the physical penalties were always
symbolic and were never carried out. After long discussion, they were removed
from the promises in 1986.